Puja guide · Ganesha

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi (Ganesh Sthapana)

On Ganesh Chaturthi, families bring a clay image of Ganesha home and install it (sthapana) with prana pratishtha, worship him for 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, and then immerse the image (visarjan). Because Ganesha is said to have been born at midday, the installation is traditionally done in the madhyahna period.

When: Install Ganesha during madhyahna on Chaturthi (calculated below for New Delhi). Traditionally, avoid looking at the moon on this night.

Step-by-step puja vidhi

1. Welcome Ganesha home

   Carry the image home with a cloth over its face, to the sound of “Ganpati Bappa Morya”, and place it on the decorated chowki facing east or west.

2. Purify and take sankalpa

   Perform achamana, sprinkle water, and state your sankalpa — how many days you will keep Ganesha and your prayer for the family.

3. Prana pratishtha

   Invoke Ganesha’s presence into the image, traditionally with Vedic mantras recited by a priest; at home, families pray sincerely for Ganesha to dwell in the murti, touching its heart with a flower or durva.

   वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
   निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

   vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha | nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ||

4. Shodashopachara puja

   These steps follow the traditional shodashopachara — the sixteen offerings with which a deity is welcomed and honoured as a guest. Offer water, panchamrit, cloth, janeu, sandal paste, sindoor, akshat, red flowers and durva, incense, lamp and naivedya.

5. Offer durva and modak

   Offer 21 blades of durva grass with his names and 21 modaks — both are especially dear to Ganesha.

   ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

   oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ

   Chant with the mantra counter →

6. Aarti

   Sing “Jai Ganesh Deva” or “Sukhakarta Dukhaharta” with camphor and a ghee lamp, and offer pushpanjali (flowers with joined palms).

7. Daily worship

   Perform a short puja with aarti and naivedya every morning and evening for as long as Ganesha stays.

8. Uttar puja and visarjan

   On the final day, perform a farewell puja, offer curd-rice or modak, ask forgiveness for any shortcomings, and immerse the image — ideally in a bucket or artificial tank at home, then use the clay water for plants.